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Senate panel debates living spaces for egg-layers

After the phase-in of the law, the birds would have a minimum of 124 to 144 square inches of space. | AP Photo

But Amon Baer, a former United Egg Producer board member who is now part of a small group, Egg Farmers of America, that opposes the legislation, warned that it could drive small farmers out of business, increase consumer prices, affect other industries and lacked scientific justification.

The issue also split the committee head, Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., a co-sponsor of the bill, and the top Republican, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, who spoke of the "unintended consequences" of possibly lower productivity, enforcement difficulties and higher prices. He said the European Union saw a drop in supply of 10 percent to 15 percent and a 55 percent increase in egg prices after implementing a similar law.

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Supporters said the price jumps seen in Europe would be avoided because the Feinstein bill gives farmers 18 years to increase the size of hen cages. The measure would also outlaw the practice of depriving hens of food and water to increase egg production, set minimum air quality standards for hen houses and require that egg cartons stipulate whether eggs come from hens that are caged, cage-free, free-range or housed in enriched cages.

According to the United Egg Producers, the majority of the nation's 280 million hens are now provided 67 square inches of space, with roughly 50 million receiving 48 square inches. After the phase-in, the birds would have a minimum of 124 to 144 square inches of space.

Disagreements over the bill resulted in it being kept out of the five-year farm and food bill that the Senate passed in June and the House Agriculture Committee farm bill approved this month.

But the House bill does contain an amendment, proposed by Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, aimed at the California rules for hen raising. His measure would bar states from requiring agriculture producers in other states to meet specific production standards before they can sell their goods. About 30 percent of the eggs sold in California come from Iowa.